Inflation-valve.



PATENTED OCT. 10, 1905.

J. E. KELLER, JR, INFLATION VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 16, 1904.

JOHN E. KELLEReJR, OF LITCHFIELD, CONNECTICUT.

INFLATION-VALVE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 10, 1905.

Application filed July 16,1904. Serial No. 216.857.

1'0 (LN, whom it may, concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN E. KELLER, Jr., a citizen of the United States,residing at Litchfield, in the county of Litchfield and State ofConnecticut, have invented a new and useful Inflation-Valve, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to inflation-valves particularly designed forpneumatic tires.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel water andair tight connection between the tubular stem of the valve and the rimof the tire and to facilitate the application and removal of the same.

Another object of the invention is to simplify the construction of thevalve mechanism, so as to insure prompt and effective operation thereofwithout liability of the valve becoming choked, and to provide for theconvenient assemblage and removal of the valve whenever desired. In thisconnection itis also designed to provide for mechanically seating thevalve so as to effectually prevent leakage thereof and to facilitate theunseating of the valve to insure an effective working thereof,particularly when it is desired to inflate the tire.

WVith these and other objects in view the present invention consists inthe combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter morefully described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and particularlypointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes inthe form, proportion, size, and minor details may be made within thescope of the claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing anyof the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of aninflation-valve constructed in accordance with the present invention.Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is adetail perspective view of the valve mechanism removed from the tubularstem. Fig. 4: is a top plan view of the tubular stem or casing. Fig. 5is a plan view of one of the washers. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional viewof the device for mechanically seating the valve. Fig. 7 is across-sectional view on the line 7 7 of Fig. 3.

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts in each andevery figure of the drawings.

The present valve includes a tubular openended casing or stem 1, whichis provided at its inner end with the usual flange 2 for cooperationwith the washer 3 and the nut i to clamp upon the inner tube of a tireso as to connect the valve-stem therewith, said stem of course beingprojected through the rim 5 in the usual manner. The bore portion 6 ofthe inner end of the stem or casing is somewhat smaller than the outerbore portion 6 in order that the walls of the stem or casing may berelatively thick where the stem passes through the rim, whereby itsstrongest point may enter the rim and receive the strains. This stem isexternally screw-threaded from end to end and is provided at oppositesides with corresponding longitudinal flat faces 7, and the outerextremity of the stem or casing is reduced in external diameter, asindicated at 8, for a purpose as will hereinafter appear, while theinterior of this reduced portion is slightly enlarged, so as to form aninner annular seat or shoulder 9, and in the outer end of the part8 arediametrically opposite notches or seats 10.

Within the bore portion 6 of the tubular stem or casing is located thevalve mechanism, which consists of the valve-tube 11, open at oppositeends and having its outer end screwthreaded internally and externallyfor connection with air-pumps, with its internal diameter increased atits outer end and provided with diametrically opposite external lugs orprojections 12 to enter the notches 10 and prevent rotation of thevalve-tube. A packingring or washer 13 is seated in a groove at theinner side of the projection 12, so as to engage the inner annularshoulder 9 of the tubular valve-stem and form an air-tight joint at thispoint when the retaining-cap 14 has been engaged with the lugs orprojections 12 of the valve-tn be and the reduced outer terminal 8 ofthe valve-stem. The lower end of the valve-tube 11 is open and providedwith diametrically opposite bifurcations 15, with a tubularscrew-threaded plug 16 removably fitted into the open lower end of thetube. \Vithin the valve-tube is the valve-stem 17,

the upper end of which is screw-threaded and It will here be explainedthat the valve and its stem are inserted through the inner end of thevalves-tube, with the guide projections 21 entered ,into thebifurcations 15, so as to prevent rotation of the valve-stem, the plug16 being afterward fitted in place, so as to prevent displacement of thevalve while at the same time permitting of the free passage of airthrough the valve-tube. At the outer end of the valve-tube there is acap or closure consisting of a disk-like head 22, having a milledperipheral edge to facilitate turning thereof and provided with atubular stem 23, which is internally screw-threaded and receives theouter screw-threaded end of the valve-stem 17 When the cap 22 is screweddown upon the stem 17 into engagement with the outer end of thevalve-tube 11, the outer end of said tube will be closed, and at thesame time the stem will-be drawn outwardly, so as to mechanically seatthe valve 19, and thereby insure an air-tight closure of the valveindependently of the pressure of the air. To inflate the tire, the cap22 is backed 01f from the valve-tube l1 and then pressed inwardly, so asto unseat the valve for the purpose of breaking any adhesion which mayoccur betweenthe valve and its seat, after which the cap may be entirelyremoved and the pump then connected to the valve-tube. Upon replacingthe cap the valve will again be mechanically seated and maintainedseated so long as the cap is in place, which insures an air-tightseating of the valve. Access may be conveniently had to the valvemechanism by removing the retaining-cap 14, which permits of thevalve-tube 11 being readily withdrawn from the valve-stem 1, whereuponthe plug 16 may be removed and the valve taken out for repairs.

It will here be noted that the slots 15 are formed by externallyreducing opposite sides of the lower terminal of the valve-tube 11 andthen forming the slots or bifurcations in the reduced portions of thetube. The importance of this feature will be understood by reference toFig. 1, wherein it will be observed that the opening through the plug 16will be closed by the valve 18 during inflation of the tire, andtherefore little or no air would pass through this plug. By reason ofthe external reduction of the tube at opposite sides at the point wherethe slots are formed there will be spaces between the slotted walls ofthe tube and the tubular stem 1 sufiicient to permit of the incoming airpassing outwardly there is sufficient space between the walls of thebore of the tubular stem 1 and the exterior of the tube 11 to preventmaterial friction of the incoming air upon the exterior of thevalve-tube and the interior of the valvestem, thus preventing heatingand consequent expansion and contraction of these parts, wherefore theproper fit of the valve-tube within the tubular stem is maintained.

To connect the tubular valve-stem 1 to the rimof the wheel, there isprovided a nut 24, which is screwed upon the stem and has anintermediate milled flange 25 for convenience in applying and removingthe nut. Interposed between the nut and the rim is a washer 26, having acentral opening provided with diametrically opposite flat walls 27 andalso provided with an external annular flange 28, which projects atopposite sides of the washer. Flexible packing-rings 29 and 30 areapplied to opposite sides of the washer, each ring being of a thicknessto project beyond the flange, so as to bear, respectively, against therim 5 and the inner end of the nut 24:, thereby to form a water and airtight joint at the point where the tubular stem 1 pierces the rim of thewheel. A similarly-constructed washer 31 is applied to the outer end ofthe nut 24, and a dust-cap 32 is fitted upon the outer extremity of thestem, so as to engage the screw-threaded portion thereof and bearagainst the washer 31, thereby to protect the valve mechanism and at thesame time operate to lock the nut 24 against accidental loosening. Itwill here be explained that the outer extremity 8 of the valve-stem 1 isreduced in diameter to accommodate the retaining-cap 14in order that thelatter may not interfere with the application of the dust-cap 32.

Having thus described the construction and operation of my invention,what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An inflation-valve including an externally-screw-threaded tubularstem for insertion through a rim and provided with an externallongitudinal flat portion, valve mechanism within the stem, a nut fittedupon the stem for engagement with the rim, locking-washers embracing thestem at opposite sides of the nut and provided with flattened portionsengaging the flat portion of the stem to prevent rotation of thewashers, and a dust-cap fitted to the outer end of the stem and engagingthe outer washer to prevent looseness thereof.

2. An inflation-valve comprising a tubular externally-screw-threadedstem provided with a flat longitudinal portion, a nut fitted upon thestem, locking-washers fitted to the stem at opposite sides of the nutfor engagement therewith, each washer having a flattened inner edgeportion to engage the flat portion of the stem and provided with anouter annular flange projected at opposite sides of the washer,packing-rings fitted to opposite sides of each Washer and projectedbeyond the opposite edges of the flange thereof, and a dustcap embracingthe outer end of the stem and engaged with the outer -washer to preventlooseness thereof.

3. An inflation-valve comprising a tubular stem for insertion through arim with its outer end portion externally reduced, valve mechanismincluding a valve-tube fitted in the stem and projected at the outer endthereof, a retaining-cap engaging the projected portion of thevalve-tube and connected to the reduced outer terminal of the stem withits exterior lying within the outer periphery of the stem, and adust-cap surrounding the retaining-cap and connected to the outerportion of the stem.

4. An inflation-valve including an external tubular stem for insertionthrough a rim and provided with an external longitudinal flat portion,valve mechanism within the stem, rim-engaging means embracing the stemand provided with an internal flat portion to engage the Hat portion ofthe stem, and an internally-threaded dust-cap engaging the threaded stemand bearing against the rim-engaging member to prevent loosenessthereof.

5. An inflation-valve comprising a tubular stem which is externallythreaded and has an external longitudinal flattened portion, a washerembracing the stem and provided with a flattened inner peripheralportion to engage the flattened portion of the stem and prevent rotationof the washer, said washer being provided at opposite sides with annularrims, packing-rings h'tted within the rims and projected beyond thesame, and an internallythreaded dust-cap fitted upon the stem to bearagainst one of the packing-rings and force the other packing-ringagainst an opposing surface to be packed. I

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own 1 have hereto afiixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN E. KELLER, JR.

Witnesses:

ANSON F. GRANNISS, CHARLES H. Corr.

